This article gives ten ways to help achieve a safe and joyful
air travel experience with your elderly parent. This is based on
personal experience with my own 91-year-old mother. After having
some rather stressful trips with my mother, I have made
conscious efforts to create more joy in our travels. My goal was
to reduce the frustration for my mother and for myself.

1. Include your parent in the planning stage of making
reservations for rooms.

Some parents prefer having a separate room. Others like the
security of sharing a room.

2. Review procedures for closing out their residence prior to
leaving. Stop paper, mail, etc. Make sure there are no
appointments lined up for the time period of the trip.

3. Plan to travel on a day ahead of the main activities of the
trip.

This time gives space for transition to the new environment and
rest from the trip.

4. Arrange with the hotel/motel for adjoining rooms if you are
in separate rooms.

This gives you the opportunity for easy connecting. Even keeping
the key for your parent could be helpful. Doors are usually very
heavy and are not easy to handle. Better to have your parent
wait in the room until you are with them.

5. Go over the procedures for contacting the front desk so that
the security of having help nearby is there.

Caution against opening the door thinking it could be family.
Rely on the phone for connection if you don't have the key to
their room.

6. If agreeable for your parent, arrange ahead of time for a
wheelchair.

Distances in the airport are LONG and there is so much confusion
everywhere. Being in the wheelchair takes away that stress for
your parent. AND you can zip through the security lines when you
are with a wheelchair passenger!

7. Take along extra reading material for your parent to make the
waiting time go faster.

Something you have may be more interesting since it is different
from what your parent usually reads.

8. Take along a nightlight so that there is safety at night for
going to the bathroom.

So many elderly people have falls which lead to inactivity which
leads to degeneration of the body. Having light at night is a
great safety precaution against falls.

9. Be careful not to pack the schedule too tight.

Leave room for naps when necessary. Take along plenty of reading
for yourself so that you are not impatient waiting.

10. When returning home, check over their residence to make
certain all is in shape for reentry.

Make certain lights are working. Check for any leaks in water
lines. Ask if there is anything that you can do for them before
you leave. Coming home after a trip is another important
transition.

About the author:

Suzanne Holman,MAEd works with successful professional baby
boomers who want to use their brains not only for financial
abundance but for bringing more JOY to their lives! Visit
Suzanne Holman's website, http://www.suzanneholman.com for a
complimentary Exuberance E Course and Assessment.